Bag cleaning or emptying device



June 22, 1937. Q HOUSER 2,084,492

BAG CLEANING OR EMPTYING DEVICE Filed Sept. 14, 1936 INVENTORK W ,7 Z @fi/P/E E. HOUSER ATTORNEY.

Patented June 22, 1937 UNITED STATES BAG CLEANING'OR EMPTYING DEVICE Orrie E. Houser, Park Ridge, 111., assignor of onethird to August Raymond Rochte, Park Ridge,

Application September 14, 1936, Serial No. 100,646

Claims.

My invention relates in general to bag cleaning or emptying devices, and more in particular to a device for cleaning or emptying the dust bag of a vacuum cleaner. The object of the inven- 5 tion is a new and improved device of this character, which is simple and efiicient in use and economical to manufacture.

The dust bag of a vacuum cleaner accumulates a varied assortment of dust and trash and has to be emptied at frequent intervals, not only to maintain the cleaner in operative condition, but

for obvious sanitary reasons. However, insofar as I am aware, no satisfactory arrangement for emptying a vacuum cleaner dust bag is available. The usual procedure is to take the bag out doors where the dust deposited will not be too objectionable, or to empty the bag on a sheet of paper laid on the floor indoors. The first procedure cannot always be followed, especially in large cities or in inclement weather; and it is clear thatthe latter method is attended with the risk of escaping dust.

The problem thus presented has been solved in a practical and efiicient manner by my invention,

which provides an arrangement by means of which a dust bag, after being disconnected from the cleaner, may be connected or clamped to an ordinary paper bag. The connection is quickly and easily made and is dust tight. The arrangement also provides for holding the paper bag in a suitable upright position while the contents of the dust bag are being transferred to it. After the dust bag is emptied it is unclamped from the paper bag and replaced on the cleaner, while the paper bag and its contents are disposed of in the furnace or garbage can.

The invention will be described more in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a plan View showing the device in operative position, with the dust bag of a vacuum cleaner clamped to an ordinary paper bag;

Fig. 2 is a view from the same direction as'in Fig. 1, with the dust bag and paper bag removed, and with the parts partly in section; while Fig. 3 is a top view showing how a paper bag is placed in position on the device ready for clamping to a dust bag.

Referring tothe drawing, which is approximately half size, the device provided by my invention comprises a circular base 2 anda ring shaped top member 5, together with the vertical rods 3 and 4 which hold the base and top member together in spaced relation. The base and top '55 member may be steel stampings and should be made from fairly heavy stock so as to provide the requisite stiffness and rigidity.

The shape of the parts and the manner in which they are secured together will be clear from the drawing, but will be explained briefly. The base is circular, as mentioned before, and has a central flat portion and a down turned rim adapted to rest on the floor. The lower ends of rods 3 and 4 are of reduced diameteLJforming shoulders, and the ends of the rods, which are threaded, pass through holes in the basewith the shoulders resting against the fiat upper surface thereof. Nuts H and I2 serve to hold the rods 3 and 4 securely in position, all as seen clearly in Fig. 2. I

The upper ends of rods 3 and 4 are also of reduced diameter, forming shoulders on which the top member 5 rests. The topv member is preferably secured in place by a staking or riveting operation. The ends of rods 3 and 4 are threaded above the top member 5 to receive the clamping nuts 6 and 1. It will be seen that the ends of rods 3 and 4 form two threaded studs 24 and 25 projecting upwardly from the top member 5.

As seen clearly in Fig. 2, the top member 5 has a central opening l3, defined by the upturned inner rim l4. There is also a down turned rim IS on the outside. Between these rims there is a flat circular surface on the upper side of .the top member against which the top of a paper bag may clamped as will presently be explained.

The invention as disclosed in the drawing is especially adapted for emptying, the dust bags of the well known Hoover vacuum cleaners, and Fig. 1 shows a Hoover dust bag, indicated by-reference character 9. This bag'is made of cloth, is closed at the upper end, and has an attachment ring I! secured to the lower end. The bag 9 is clamped to the ring H by means of a steel band 22 under which the lower end of the bag is folded and which is drawn up tight by a small bolt 23. The band 22 lies in a shallow groove 20 in the outside of the upper portion of ring l1. This groove is seen in Fig. 2, which shows the ring I! with the dust bag detachedso that the ring can be more clearly seen.

The dust bag of the Hoover cleaneris'connected to the dust outlet by means of the attachment ring, which has two lugs l8 and I9, spaced 180 apart. These lugs are slotted as seen in the drawing and are counter-bored or recessed on top vto provide seats fornuts such as the nuts 6 and 1. Surrounding the dust outlet of the cleaner, there is a fiat circular surface from which project two studs. This flat circular surface of course conforms to the lower surface of ring I1.

To attach the bag the attachment ring is presented to the dust outlet with the lugs 18 and [9 to one side of the studs and with the slots facing them. The ring is then slid toward the studs until the latter fully enter the slots in the lugs, after which the nuts with which the studs are provided are tightened down and the connection is made. The lower surface of ring I! may have a rubber gasket such as 2| in order to aid in making a dust proof connection. It will be clear that the dust bag may be quickly detached by reversing the described operations.

The cleaning device of my; invention is so designed and the parts are'so proportioned that the dust bag of the Hoover cleaner can be interchangeably connected either to the cleaner or" to the cleaning device. To this end the upper. surface of the top member has a portion which is aflat: circular surface corresponding to the. surface surrounding the dust outlet of the cleaner,

andv the studs 24 and 25 correspond in size and spacing; to the studs with. which the cleaner is provided. 'Thuathe attachment ring I! may be clamped to the top: member 5' of the cleaning device for the-purpose of emptyingcit in the same way that it. is clamped: to: the vacuum cleaner when in use.

Theoperation of; the invention will now be described, The cleaning device is placed onthe floor in an upright position as seen in Fig. 1. An ordinary paper bag, a ten. lb. bag is about the rightsizegis them openedup and'the top is passed up through the opening l3 in top member 5 until the top of the: bag: protrudes an inch or more above the top member. The top of the bag is then folded down over the inner rim l4 so that it. lies'flat; om the upper surface of the top member. Fig. 3' shows the device. with a paper bag imposition; The paper. bag. should be torn for a short distance: at: points adjacent the studs 24 and.25-to= enable the top of the bag to lie flat. As there is. nothingin: the bag it will readily stay in this: position while the: dust bag is being detachedafro-ms the vacuum cleaner. a

The nuts. on the vacuum cleaner which hold the attachment ring of the dust bag are now loosened up' and the ring is slipped off the studs. The lower endiofthedustbag, bei ng thus disconnected from the vacuum cleaner, is raised up to prevent escape of dust and is presented to the top 'member of the cleaning device, which latter is preferably' grasped byone of the rods 3 or 4 and,

turned to a horizontal position. The nuts 5 and 1 have of" course been partially backed off, which permits the attachment ring to be quickly placed in: position, with the studs 24 and 25in the slots or thelugs IIB-and' I 9. The ring IT is now pressed against'the top member, with the folded top of l the: paper bag between, and the device can be replaced in aiverticalaposition on the floor. The

nuts-tand hare-now tightened up'and the conbag is vigorously shaken to transfer its contents to the paper bag. During this operation the .operatorpreferably places. one foot on the base 2 so as tohold the device on the floor. When the dust bag is empty it is detached andthe-top of the paper bagis straightened up and. closed to.- gether so as to prevent the esc pe 01" 1 1 The of dust bags.

paper bag with its contents may then be disposed V of in any convenient manner. v It will be seen that my invention provides a new ing or emptying the dust bag of a vacuum cleaner indoors and without any danger of dust escaping.

' and improved device for quickly and easily cleantively small opening at the lower end, where it is attached to the outlet of the vacuum cleaner and has an open top of larger size which is normally kept closed by clamps suspended from the handle of the vacuum cleaner. In order to adapt the invention to cleaning or emptying a bag of this type I provide a ring similar to the ring l1, except that the upper or barrel portion of the ring is considerably longer, preferably about an inclr in length.. I. also provide a steel band such as the band; 22,. but a: little; wider. The ring and band constitute; an: adapter, which may be readily attached to the open end of the dust bag. after the same has beenzunclamped and enable, it to be clamped to' a paper'bag by means of the cleaning device in the manner heretofore described. The lower end. of: the dust bag is then. uncoupled from the vacuum cleaner and the contents are shaken into thepaper bag, the. process being substantially the same as when. cleaning a. Hoover bag.

Other modifications or. adaptations are possible, and I do not therefore: desire to be,- limited to the exact embodiments. shown and described, but desire to include and have protected by Letters Patent all. forms and. variations of my invention which come within the: scope. of the appended claims.

What. I claim is:'

1. A cleaning device for the dust bag of. a vacuum cleaner, comprising a base, atop member supported above said base with a space between, said member having a central opening adapted. to have inserted therein the top of a paper bag positioned in thespace between the base and said tOP member, said top member having a portion of its surface over which the top of said bag may be folded conforming to the shape and dimensions of the attachmentring of a vacuumcleaner'bagand means for clamping such' attachment ring to-the surface of said top member with the top of the paper bagbetween, thereby effecting a dust tight connection between the dust bag and paper bag.

2. A cleaning devicefor the dustbag of'a vacopening adapted toreceive the top of a paper bag,

said top member having a surface surrounding said openingupon which the top of the paper bag may-be folded down, a plurality of threaded studs projecting upward from said surface, the spacing of said studs conforming to the spacing of lugs on a ring shaped member secured in one end of the dust bag, and nuts threaded on said studs for clamping such member against said top member Withth e down folded top of the paper bag between them, thereby effecting a connection'between the dust bag and paper bag.

3. A cleaning device for the dust bag of a vac- ;uum cleaner. said. device comprising a member having a surface conformingin shape and dimensions to the surface surrounding the dust outlet 'of a. vacuum cleaner and against which the attachment ring of the dust bag is adapted to be clamped, and clamping means associated with said member corresponding to the clamping means of the vacuum cleaner, whereby the attachment ring may be interchangeably clamped either to the vacuum cleaner dust outlet or to said member, said member having a central opening through which the top of a disposal bag may be inserted and connected to the dust bag by clamping it between the attachment ring and the surface of said member.

4. A cleaning device for the dust bag of a vacuum cleaner, comprising a base, a plurality of rods secured to said base and extending upwardly therefrom, a top member supported on said rods, each of which has a threaded portion projecting above the top member, said threaded portions constituting studs corresponding in spacing to the studs with which a vacuum cleaner is provided for securing thereto the attachment ring of a dust bag, said top member having a central opening through which the top of a paper bag may be inserted and connected to a vacuum cleaner dust bag by clamping the down folded top of the bag between the attachment ring of the dust bag and the upper surface of said top memher, and means threaded on said studs for effecting the clamping action as set forth.

5. Apparatus for transferring to a disposal bag the contents of a vacuum cleaner dust bag of the type which is provided with an attachment ring by means of which it is secured to the vacuum cleaner, said apparatus comprising a member having a portion of its upper surface conforming in shape and dimensions to the lower surface of the attachment ring, means for supporting said member so that a disposal bag having its top inserted in the opening in the member will hang free, and means for clamping the attachment ring to said member with the top of the disposal bag gripped between their respective lower and upper surfaces.

ORRIE E. HOUSER. 

